Pole ladder



NOV. 10, 193,1. Q B, WAGNER 1,831,332

' POLE LADDER Filed'June 25, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 i l *m a fl InventorC: W0 er NOV. 10, 1931. C, B. WAGNER 1,831,332

POLE LADDER Filed June 23, 1930 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ../x o H o mlf u' lfW By ,@Mmz@ A llorney Patented Nov. l0, 1931 CHARLES BRYAN WAGNER, 0FSPRING MILLS, PENNSYLVANIA POLE LADDER Application filed June 23,

This invention relates to newl and useful improvements in pole laddersparticularly for use on telephone, telegraph and electric poles, but itis to be understood that a ladder `iii accordance with this inventionmay be utilized for any purpose for which the same isV found adapted anddesirable. l 'An important feature of the invention rei Vsides in theprovision of a housing or casing Vwhich is permanently mounted on thepole having pivotally mounted for Aswinging movement therein a series ofsteps. which are operatively connected together in a manner to permitthe same to be simultaneously swung to operative or inoperativeposition.

AAnother important featureV of the inventionresides inthe provision ofresilient means `for automatically returning tlie steps to inoperativeposition within the housing where i 20 the same are out ofthe way.

, ,Other objects of the invention are to provide a pole ladder of theaforementioned Vcharacter which will be' simple in construction, strong,durable, efficient in its use and i ,25 which may be manufactured atcomparative- 1y low cost. v

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention may become apparent from a study of the follow- 1 -30 ingspecification, taken inyconnection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding part-sthroughout the several views, and whereina 1 Figure l is a view in sideelevation showing :a ladder constructed in accordance'with thisinvention mounted inposition on thepole with the steps infinop'erativeposition within the'housing orcasing. s

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the Adevice with the steps swungoutwardly to operative position. T y v f Fgure 3 is a detailv view inelevation show-` ingfthe' ladder `removed from the housing.

V 45j vFigure 4 is a fragmentary sectionalyiew in operative orinoperative position. In ythis 1930. vSerial N0. 463,179.`

on an enlarged scale showing one of the steps in Yinoperative orretracted position in the housingand means for securing the sametherein. s Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail viewfin section showing onevof the steps inoperative Position. j v

Referring to tlie drawings in detail, it will be seen that the referencenumeral l designates a pole upon the upper endportion of whichistmounted a cross arm 2 which is 55 braced b y the members 3. A housing4 of substantially Ueshaped horizontal cross section is rigidly securedlongitudinally on the pole l `by the bolts 5.. i

4.A series of steps 6 are pivotally mounted 60 -for swinging movement invertically spaced relation on thejtransversely extending pins 7 in thehousing or casing 4, said pins Textending vertically through the hubportion 8 formed integrally on the said steps 6.l `The '65V .steps 6 areprovided with upturned free end portions 9 to prevent slippingtherefrom. The hub portion 8 of each `step 6hasformed therein `anangular recess which is indicated to advantage in broken lines in Figure5 of 70 the drawings,lsaid recess providing furcations 10 lbetween whichextends the operating rod 1l which is pivotally connected to thefurcations as at l2. The inner walls of the recess which'forms thefui-cations l0 is of 5 right angular formation, as indicated at 13 andthe angles of said walls are adapted for abutting engagement with theadjacent sides of the operating rod 11 when the'step's 6 are manner theoutward swinging movement of the steps 6 is limited in a mannertomaintain said steps in a horizontal position.

At its lower'` end portionthe housing or easing 4 is provided with apartition wall 14V havinga polygonal opening through which slidablyextends the threaded'shank 1,5 lia`ving a nut 16 threaded for adjustmenton its lower end portion for supporting awasher 17. At its upper end theshank 15 is forked and pivotally connected to the rod 11 as at 18. Acoiled spring 19 encircles the shank 15 and has one end engaged on thewasher 17 and its upper' end engaged with the partition 14 in a mannerto yieldingly urge the shank 15 and the rod 11 downwardly.

A hook 2O is loosely mounted for swinging movement on the lower portionof the cas-- ing or housing 4 and is engageable with the apertured ear21 on the free end portion of the lowermost step for retaining said stepin extended or operative position against the tension of the coiledspring 19. Formed integrally on the tree ledgeslof the housing '4 arethe a ertured ears 22 for the passage of a remova le pin 22 forproviding positive means for retaining the steps in inoperative orretracted position in the casing or housing, said pin 22 beingengageable with one of the steps as clearly seen in Figure 4 of thedrawings.

As will be readily apparent, when it is desired to use the Vladder. thepin 22 is removed and whenoneot the steps is swung outwardly tohorizontal position the movement is transmitted to all of the .stepsthrough the rod 11. The hook 20 is then engaged in the ear 21 and thesteps are thus maintained in horizontal position. When through using theladder, the hook 2O is disengaged rom the apertured ear 21 and the coilspring 19 will move the shank 15 and the rod 11 downwardly andl thusswing the steps upwardly to a position within the hous ing or casing 4.The pin 22 is then reinserted in the a ertured ears and the steps arethus positively secured in retracted position and outof the way. e Y

It is believed that the many advantages of a pole ladder constructed inaccordance with this invention will be readily understood, and

Valthough the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustratedand described, it is to be'understood that changes in the details ofconstructiony may be had which will fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed is 1. A pole ladder of the character describe comprisingan elongated housing of substantially U-shaped cross section mountedlongitudinally on the pole, a series ofsteps pivotally mounted invertically spaced relation for swinging movement into and out ofthehousing, an elongated rod pivotally connected to each of the stepsand constituting means for operatively connecting said steps togetherfor simultaneous operation, and resilient means operatively engaged withthe rod in a manner to yieldingly urge the samein adireetion to move thesteps to inoperative position within the housing.

2. A pole ladder of the character described i comprising an elongatedhousing open at its front and adaptedto be mounted vertically on thepole, a series of steps pivotally mounted in vertically spaced relationfor swinging movement into and out of the housing, said steps having oneend portion slotted in a manner to provide furcations,.an elongated rodextending through the slots and pivotally connected to the turcations,said rods constituting means for swinging the steps to both operativeand inoperative position, certain of the walls ot' the slots engageablewith the elongated rod in a manner to limit the swinging movement of thesteps and maintain the same in a substantially horizontal position Whenswung outwardlyfrom the housing.

3. A pole ladder of the character described comprising an elongatedhousing open at its front and adapted to be mounted vertically on thepole, a series of steps pivotally mounted in vertically spaced relationfor swinging movement into and out of the housiny said steps having oneend portion slotte( in a manner to provide urcations, -an elongated rodextending through the slots and pivotally connected to the urcations,said rods con- 190 stituting means 'for swinging the steps to Y bothoperative and inoperative position, certain oi the walls of the slotsengageable'with the elongated rod in a manner to limit the swingingmovement of the steps and main- Q5 tain the same in a substantiallyhorizontal position when swung outwardlyV from the housing, meansmounted on the housing for releasably securing the steps in operativeposition, means mounted on the housing for' releasably maintaining thesteps in inoperative position, and resilient means operatively crou-`pled to the rodV for yieldingly urging said rod in a direction to movethe steps to inoperative position in the housing.

4. A pole ladder of the character described comprising an elongatedhousing open at'its front and adapted to be mounted vertically on thepole, a series of steps pivotally mounted in vertically spaced relationfor swinging movement into and out of the housing, said steps having oneend portion slotted in a manner to provide furcations, an elongated rodextending through the slots and pivotally connected to the urcations,said rods con-1' stituting means for swinging the steps to bothoperative and inoperative position, certain of the walls of the slotsenga-geable with the elongated rod in a manner to limit the swingingmovement ofthe steps and main' tain "the same in al substantiallhorizontal position when swung outward y from the housing, means mountedon the housing for releasably securingthe steps in operative position,means mounted on the housing for releasably maintaining the steps ininoperative position, and resilient means operatively coupled to the rodfor yieldingly urging said rod in a direction to move thel steps toinoperative position in the housing, said means' com rising a partitionformed integrallyin the ower end portion-of the houslng, said partitionhavinor an opening therethrough, a threaded shan connected to the lowerend portion of the elongated rod and extending slidably through theopening in the partition,

a washer mounted for adjustment on the shank in opposed relation to thepartition, and a coil spring mounted on the shank and en aged with thewasher and the partition. n testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

CHARLES BRYAN WAGNER.

